​Every year, when summer rolls around, there is always this huge hype about the Fremont Festival of the Arts. But why? Why are people always so excited about it? What makes it so unique in comparison to all the other festivals in the Bay Area? We sat down with Cindy Bonior, Fremont Festival Director, and Dirk Lorenz, the Fremont Festival Committee Chair, to find out.

Question: 35 years is a long time. Can you tell us about how it all began?

DL: Years ago, after the historic Pathfinders Day parade celebrations ended, a few community leaders were looking for a replacement event that could unify the community and provide entertainment to a growing city with a diversifying population. Enter the Fremont Festival of the Arts.

Q: How does it all come together? Who’s in charge of producing the event?

CB: The Fremont Chamber of Commerce produces the entire event. We execute all of it from venues to attractions, but it takes the help of numerous volunteers. We have only five people on staff, so we lean on our volunteers quite a bit.

DL: We sure do. The Festival takes thousands of volunteers to pull off. No joke, thousands.

Q: So much work goes into the Festival. Exactly how much time and planning is required to make it all happen?

CB: From the Chamber’s point of view, we work on the Festival pretty much year-round. There are peak times and quieter times. But generally, we’ll meet right after the Festival and see what could be improved on, what should be abandoned or added, and which vendors we want to reach out to or want to work with. We stay busy but to varying degrees. In the fall to early year, it’s not a huge amount of work. But after New Year’s Day, we start getting applications out and, right around May, we get super busy.

DL: From the volunteer standpoint, most of the time dedicated is in the two weeks prior to and on the actual weekend of the event. It is not unusual for core volunteers to work 48+ hours on Festival weekend.

Q: If you had to pick, what would be your favorite part of the Festival?

CB: Can I pick two? Haha. I’ve got two, but they go hand-in-hand. 9 a.m. Saturday, when the artists are coming in, putting on the finishing touches of their art work and booths, and vendors are setting up. It’s right before the curtain goes up, so to speak, and it’s an exciting time. And my other favorite time is Sunday night, when we close and know we delivered a great event for the community. Knowing it was fun, safe, and we succeeded in accomplishing our job, I always walk away feeling great.

DL: I agree with Cindy, mine is always going home Sunday night. Haha! Actually, it’s looking at the four walking miles of “city” that literally pop up overnight. I will survey the site on Saturday morning before all heck breaks loose and see the fruits of the labor of thousands of people. It’s very rewarding.

Q: On behalf of all the foodies out there, we’ve got to ask about the food. What can we expect to find at the Festival?

CB: This is something I’m really proud of – that we were able to find and cultivate diverse food groups. Yes, we have traditional fair food like kettle corn, sliders, shaved ice, and cheese steaks. But we also have more diverse stuff like linguica, gazpacho, samosas, lumpia, Mexican food, poke bowls, skewers, porchetta, pot stickers, Mediterranean food – just a different array of cultural foods that we haven’t had in a really long time. It’s a taste of stuff you normally wouldn’t get at an outdoor festival. We’ve also got gourmet food trucks added to the mix. We’ve got something for everybody.

Q: How does the Festival of the Arts fit into the city’s art scene? Do you believe it positively impacts local artists?

CB: Absolutely, it gives local artists an opportunity to show off their work to a large number of people. It also gives them an opportunity to show what they can do; an opportunity to get started with their business, at the very least, to test the waters to see if they have marketable art work. I was amazed the first time I saw the Festival. It shows off the diversity of Fremont, it shows off the city’s culture and community, and the community comes together to make it all happen and I think that’s really important. The level of community spirit here in Fremont is exceptional.

DL: Speaking of community, we also have the Community Stage where local theater, dance, and music companies can showcase their talents. We try to celebrate all forms of the arts at the Festival and giving the younger generations a stage to perform on is something we’re proud to offer the community.

Q: Great, let’s talk about music next. What kind of entertainment can we expect to find at the Festival?

CB: We have a little bit of everything; rock-n-roll, country, jazz, zydeco, pop, etc. Since we have two days and two stages, we are able to offer a wide variety of music.

Q: And what about the little ones? Are there kid-friendly attractions at the Festival?

CB: Definitely! We have Kid City and Kid City West, which offer a wide variety of carnival rides geared for small kids age 12 and under. We also have arts and crafts for kids, such as sand art, drawing, and a place for kids to learn bicycle safety.

DL: Our street performers also entertain kids with things like face painting, hair braiding, and balloon animals. Several of our sponsors also offer family-friendly attractions throughout the Festival site.

Q: The Festival is called the Fremont Festival of the Arts, but what about it screams "FREMONT”?

CB: The Festival is not a big commercial endeavor. Actually, the Festival is about raising money for nonprofit groups. We always try to stay really true to those roots. A lot of nonprofits have dropped by the wayside, but we’ve continued the Festival’s tradition of helping them by taking a percentage of vendor payments and redirecting those funds to nonprofits. We didn’t want to stop supporting nonprofits just because they can’t participate in some of the ways they used to. Our belief is that the community is the foundation of Fremont. By empowering the community, we strengthen Fremont. Therefore, we established the Fremont Community Foundation to support nonprofits this way. Being a nonprofit ourselves, we wanted to help other nonprofits by building our Fremont Community Foundation so we can help nonprofits in a different way.

Q: Ok, so the Festival helps local non-profits, but does it also generate revenue for the city of Fremont?

CB: The city does realize tax revenue from sales tax, vendor fees, and business license fees paid by vendors. A large portion of our budget goes to the city, by paying for their services. We’ve been told by some of the hotels that the Festival helps fill hotel rooms on that weekend. A lot of the hotels are full that weekend. And the city is generous to us. They try to be helpful in showing support to all events, not just us.

DL: The city estimates that more than $1 million in tax revenue is generated from sales tax, room occupancy taxes, and local dining by those working and attending the festival.

Q: Fremont has a very diverse community. Does the diversity of the Festival's offerings match the diversity of Fremont residents?

DL: This has been a key strategy of the Festival Committee for years - making the Festival relevant to the area demographics. I believe our menu options throughout the Festival are reflective of our diversity. Also, the art by both the artists selling art and by the street performers reflect the diversity of Fremont, as it has been tailored to those attending.

Q: At the end of the day, why should people come to the Fremont Festival of the Arts?

CB: The festival brings together the community. It’s a place where people in Fremont gather with friends, or meet old friends they haven’t seen in a long time, including young people and students who have a chance to socialize with friends over the summer. There’s also lots of good food, cold beer, and wine. It has all the makings of a nice afternoon.

DL: It’s seriously FUN! It’s a safe, family event that has something for everybody.

Half of the year is already gone. Hard to believe, but true. In the next few months, most companies start to gear up to showcase their businesses by participating at tradeshows. A lot of businesses do not seem to prepare in advance to for this; and when a tradeshow comes up they decline to participate because they are not ready to do so. Or there is a lot of last minute preparations and stress and it shows in their booth set up. Tradeshows are a marketing venue that takes your business to the public.

When setting up your business, most have their business cards and website ready to go for any inside type of marketing, but, cannot take their business on the road. Participating in tradeshows, festivals or other events is a fast and economical vehicle to reach a lot of people in a short amount of time.

For any size tradeshow, festival or an event where you will be showcasing your business here is a quick check list of the equipment you must have on hand and ready to go:

Company banner with your company logo, name and website address.

Canopy branded or plain, but if you have one you will always be ready for any event. Also, make sure you have weights to weigh your canopy down if the event is outdoors. You don’t want your canopy to fly away and cause injuries.

Sales collateral. Make sure it’s up to date and that you have plenty of it. For example, for the Fremont Festival of the Arts’ Business Marketplace, on average members give away 3,000 of each piece of their sales collateral in two days.

Develop a way to engage attendees to stay more than 5 minutes in your booth. It could be a drawing prize to sign up for; sampling your product(s); and/or participating in an activity that reflects your business.

Branded tablecloths or plain but using your company colors.

All staff manning your booth wearing the same shirt. This helps attendees to easily identify your staff when your booth is packed with people.

Snacks and water for your staff only.

Before purchasing any consumables like cookies, candies, waters to use as giveaways, make sure with event host that it will be okay for your business to do this. You don’t want to purchase these items and find out at the event that you need a health permit.

If the event is outdoors and, in the evening, bring extra lanterns to help with lighting your booth.

A box of extra office supplies for your staff such as pens, papers, staplers, tape, band aids, etc… Always make sure that your staff has everything they could possibly need.

GREAT staff. Can’t say this enough. You want staff that can handle any question, issue and represents your company in the manner you want it represented. Train your staff, ready to speak anyone, have positive attitudes and cannot express this enough…train your staff. Also make sure they know they are to stand at all times (they can sit at their breaks). This may sound harsh, but have you ever walked to a booth and the staff were sitting and engage with their phones or with each other. You feel like you don’t want to interrupt them, but they are there to showcase and represent your business. They need to stand and be ready to engage with attendees.

Most businesses are always ready to handle any inside marketing. Stand out and be ready for any marketing that takes your business on the road…even if it’s locally.

​Last year, a group of like minded travelers met up at a wine bar in the Bay Area to discuss their future trip – a wine themed cruise in France. They drank wine, ate cheese and homemade bread, and shared travel stories. By the end of the evening, they were ready to travel together and make new friends. They set a date for 2018, marked their calendars, and anticipated their wine trip in 2018.

The group decided to visit local wineries and meet the operators, learn about the wine regions and histories, see how wars and rulers changed the landscape, and partake in local varietals. This group loved wine, but did not know each other. Their common interests helped shape a trip and create life long travel buddies. Along the way, they supported each other. Some were detail oriented and implemented communication methods, while the social and wine-minded arranged appointments and luncheons.

Traveling with others has great benefits. The traveler can still carve out solo spaces for sanity, but at the end of the day the group gathers to discuss that amazing croissant consumed on the grassy hill overlooking the bustling town square.

Traveling with others who have the same interests can increase trip enjoyment. It does not have to be a large group, either. A local hiking club recently gathered some members and they adventured through three weeks in Africa together. They surrounded themselves with people who like the same level of activity, enjoyed the same books and movies, and then experienced the world together. Those starry night dinners after an event filled day of travel take on a whole new meaning when shared with new friends.

A local business owner in the East Bay is starting a new project. She operates local beer tours in Fremont’s backyard, but she wants to expand. She wants to see the world and share her experiences. She is starting a travel club with beer lovers. They will visit breweries in far off towns, learn how the brewing process works, enjoy beer together, learn about culture and history, and late at night share sudsy stories about their shenanigans. Their travel is targeted, interesting, and catered to their likes and dislikes.​There is a vast world out there and sometimes it is difficult to pick the next adventure. Every person is unique, so travel should be, too. If the trip reflects the individuality of the traveler, the experiences will be deeper and more enjoyable. Travelers should think about what their hobbies and interests are, and start talking to like minded people about traveling together.

Politics can be roller coaster without a safety bar -- and many people avoid taking the ride of their lives. Especially in this era of 24-7 news cycles, “fake news” and a tumultuous political environment, too many Americans are skipping the ballot box.But we are still a nation where our leaders are decided by ballots. In many places around the world, individuals just trying to exercise the right to vote are met with corruption or violence. Voting is something too many of our citizens take for granted and deem no longer important.Do you know how many elected officials there are in the U.S.? The answer: 513,000.

We are a citizen democracy. And while you may not care about politics and government, they sure care about you – and your business.With primary elections in California upon us, please take a moment and reflect about the importance of civic engagement. President Abraham Lincoln said, “Democracy is a government...of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Governing starts on the ground with its engaged citizenry leading the way.At the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to promote, support, and enhance a positive business environment by working closely with our city, business, and community partners to empower our citizens and move Fremont and California forward. And we can’t move forward without you taking the first step: exercising your right to vote!If you have questions about the June 5th election, please click here visit the California Secretary of State’s election site. To learn more about our government affairs efforts, please explore the Business For Good Government and Advocacy sections of our website.

​written by

Matt SenekeremianFremont Chamber of Commerce Director of Government Affairs & Community Engagement

The 4th Annual Fremont Burger & Brew Fest was held on May 26th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Attendance was the largest the event has ever seen, clocking in at just over 7,500.

The tasting portion of the fest featured 38 craft brews from 18 bay area breweries. And this year, the coveted People's Choice Best Brew Award went to Palmia, Lemon Infused Lager.

"Palmia is much more than a refreshing, naturally lemon-infused beer. It is our 90 calorie love letter to good taste. Inspired by adventures on the coast of Spain, our dream was to bring a new choice to the light beer market, a lager that has superior flavor & offers a long overdue alternative to all the other watered-down beer brands. Whether you find yourself relaxing at the beach or just spending time with friends after work, Palmia wants your time & your beer to be of the highest quality."

12 food trucks dished up 39 unique burgers in every style of food from Mexican to Indian. And the 2nd Annual Burger Throwdown competition was fierce this year. The Fremont Firefighters returned as defending champions and once again took home the perpetual trophy.

Plus, ​Burger Throwdown Sponsor, Sysco San Francisco, had a big surprise for all the competitors; they would be donating not just $250 to the winning team's charity, but $250 to ALL the competitors charities. Those charities included the Special Olympics of Northern California, Friends of Children with Special Needs, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and Math Science Nucleus.

​New additions to the Burger & Brew Fest this year included 3 new "hangout" areas; the Arcade (with free pinball and classic arcade games), the Park (picnic tables, pink flamingos, and yard games), and the Living Room (couches!). The Fest also featured artisinal sangria for those non-beer drinkers and a FREE Designated Driver gift bag for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

As usual, the main stage was packed with music from up and coming bay area bands. This year's line up consisted of Trip Wire, The Morning Yells, and Shark Punch.

Several artists were also out selling burger and brew themed crafts along with some delicious snack vendors. Burger & Brew Fest merch was a big hit this year with the addition of our buttons series, each selling for just $1!

Planning for the 2019 fest has already begun. Dates and delicious details will be released soon.

​​written by

Jennifer Bonior​Fremont Chamber of Commerce Director of Special Events

Communication has changed immensely since I began my professional practice back in 1984. At that time, phone messages were written on small pink sheets of paper. Written communications came by U.S. mail or, in cases of extreme urgency, were hand-delivered. For the most part, telephone calls were made or came in between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It was a major innovation when businesses started to have fax machines.

Now, communication is constant and instantaneous. One gets phone calls to confirm that one got the text confirming that an email had been received confirming that a fax had arrived. Emails and texts come in at all hours seven days a week. There is the always present smart phone with (in the case of mine) its dings and blinking blue light.

Maybe I am just old, but I am not at all certain this is a good thing. Instant communication often means less well thought out communication. A text or email comes in that you disagree with or that makes you angry; you immediately fire back. The other party responds. Soon the communication becomes more about who can get to their mobile device more quickly rather than an exchange of information or ideas.

There is then the increased stress level generated by the barrage of communications. A text came in to me; I must respond right away or feel guilty. I am on vacation and receive a telephone call; again instant attention is needed. It gets to the point that one can not relax, read a book, enjoy a park or anything else without constant intrusions. This can not truly be a healthy way to live.

I hear the response now...but this enables people to stay in contact and connected; that's a good thing. I don't disagree, but there is a flip side. What about the situation where you have three or four people sitting in a room together and all of them are looking at their smart phones or iPads or something of that sort rather than communicating with one another. Again, not a healthy situation.

I have a few suggestions as to how to combat these problems. I suggest that we each need to commit to at least a few hours a day or a week when we don't go on social media; we don't answer the cell phone; we don't text. We can spend that time absorbed in the people and things around us or giving thoughtful consideration to how to address whatever issues we may need to handle. Let's spend some time thinking and reflecting before we text, email or call. Let's not feel we must immediately text, email or call simply because we thought of something at 4:00 a.m. and have our electronic device handy. Take the time to think through the idea first. Let's try it; I bet we will find more civilized communication and less stress. Wouldn't that be nice?

Now, I must go...I have texts which need to be sent RIGHT NOW!

written by

Elise Balgley

Attorney at Bernard, Balgley & Bonaccorsi LLPLaw Offices

Elise is the President of the Business forGood Government Political Action Committee

There is more to your membership with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce than just paying your membership dues. The Fremont Chamber is a vehicle you need to drive on your road to success.

The Chamber produces over 80 events annually to bring people together and network. And of the 80 events, approximately 80% of them are free to attend. FREE! So what are you waiting for? To keep up with all the Chamber’s events, SIGN UP for the Fremont Business Brief, our weekly e-newsletter.

Here are a few more ways that you can make the most out of your Chamber Membership...​Market and Promote Your Business:​

The Fremont Business Brief: Members may submit press releases, member news articles, and new members’ company profiles are posted all at no cost.

Open for Business: Is a section of the Chamber’s website on which members may post coupons, events, special discounts and job postings all at no cost.

When members join, members may pick out 3 different categories to list your business at no cost.

Seminars: Members may host their own seminars on the first Thursdays each month in the Chamber’s conference room at no cost.

Connection Clubs: Members may speak at the Connection Clubs about their expertise at no cost.

Ribbon Cuttings and Mixers: Members may attend these events to network and get better connected in the community at no cost.

Fremont Street Eats Member Market: Pre-book your 3 dates for a booth space at Fremont Street Eats, a weekly food truck event from May through October. There is no cost to book a booth space.

Banner Ads in the Fremont Business Brief: Members may purchase a 4-week banner ad in our weekly e-newsletters for a low cost.

Burger & Brew Fest Business Marketplace: Affordable booth space is available at the May 26th event which attracts over 7,500 attendees.

Fremont Festival of the Arts Business Marketplace: Affordable booth space is available to members at the largest free street festival west of the Mississippi. This year's event will take place on August 4th and 5th.

Get Involved and Join One of the Chamber’s Committees/Clubs:

Join the Membership Committee to develop new services for members.

Join the Government Affairs Committee to weigh in on legislative issues that may affect your business community.

Join the Marketing Committee to ensure all Chamber events and services are well communicated to members and the public.

Join the Fremont Festival of the Arts Committee to keep this long tradition alive and vibrant.

Join the Board of Directors to keep the health and welfare of the Chamber going strong.

Join a Connection Club, the Chamber’s networking groups that meet on a regular basis.

Join the Ambassador Club, who are the Chamber’s right-hand men and women and facilitate all mixers and ribbon cuttings.

Joining a Chamber is not a silver bullet for greatness, but it is a vehicle to achieve it. You need to be involved and use your benefits to affect change in your business success. So, I'll ask again... what are you waiting for?

The Fremont Chamber’s website is built to promote Chamber member businesses and give members access to features and benefits via our Member Portal. Members, here are a few tips on how you can increase your Chamber interaction!

Get your Credentials First! Before you start on any of these tips, you will need your member login credentials. Here’s how: Fremont Chamber members, go to www.fremontbusiness.com, click on the “Members Only” link above the Fremont Chamber logo; click the link “Click here for personal login information”; enter your email address. Your log in credentials will be sent to your email address.

Not a member? Not a problem! Contact KK at (510) 795-2244, ext. 103 to learn more about becoming a member. You can also join directly on our website at fremontbusiness.com.

#1 - Check and Update your Contact Information and Social Media Links

Log in with your credentials

Click “Update Your Contact Information” on the right hand side in the Quick Links box

Click the “Edit My Profile” button

Click “Save and Submit”

Make sure all the information is correct and add or change new information.To update or add your social media links, click the “Social Media” tab and enter the full URL (including http://) in the appropriate text field.

NOTE: When updating your contact information, you must fill in the “Changed by...” information.

#2 - Submit an Event

Log in with your credentials

Click on the “Submit an Event” button in the Quick Links box

Fill in the form

Click “Submit Event”

Your event will be queued up and approved by Fremont Chamber staff. Please do not submit events that are not hosted or sponsored by a Fremont Chamber member. If you have a community event that is Fremont focused but not hosted or sponsored by a Fremont Chamber member, you may submit it as a community event with this link: web.fremontbusiness.com/events/eventsubmission.aspx

NOTE: In addition to the normal vent information like time, date, location, address, please be prepared to enter an event description and a complete URL to any ticketing/registration page (e.g. your eventbright page).

#3 - Add a Coupon

Log in with your credentials

Click the “Add a Coupon” button in the Quick Links box

Click the “New Coupon” button and fill in the form

Click “SAVE”

NOTE: Select the blank space above “Member to Member” when choosing “Coupon Type.” If you choose member to member, your coupon will appear only to members who have logged in. Make sure you put a date for when the coupon expires.

In the spring of 1984, being a young new business person, I thought it wise that I get involved in our community. So, first thing I thought of was the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. After all, I had just purchased a business that had been a member for many, many years. I remember hosting my first mixer that year and signing up to work the information booth at a then new event called the Fremont Art and Wine Festival. Back then, the Festival was held at the Hub shopping center. I remember staffing that information booth and staring at what was then the Office Depot.

Fast forward 35 years. After getting past the question of "where has the time gone?" I am still, shall I say, a bit involved with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. As a matter of fact, quite often I think of myself as the "old man of the Chamber " having chaired the Fremont Festival of the Arts for the last 15 years or so.

I am still as involved as I am because it is essential to maintain the personal relationships with your community- and the chamber affords me that opportunity.

Like any other business, we've experienced great times, good times, and tough times. Like many other industries, technology has changed mine dramatically. One thing that has not changed is that you cannot be successful without three important elements in your arsenal of business tools:

You have to be involved in your community.

You have to work with great people.

You have to have the support of family and friends.

Oh, and there is a number four - You have to work your butt off!

What hasn’t changed from 1984 is the fact that being involved with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce offers so many opportunities to interface with our community and fellowship with business owners. It’s one of the best investments I ever made in my business!

It’s a little-known secret that the Fremont Chamber of Commerce is the powerhouse behind three of the Bay Area’s premiere Spring & Summer events: Fremont Street Eats, the Fremont Burger & Brew Fest, and the Fremont Festival of the Arts. Never heard of these events, you say? Well prepare to be amazed as I tell you more about what’s going on in your own backyard…

Fremont Street EatsA weekly food truck event that features 10-15 gourmet food trucks, beer and wine sales, live entertainment, prizes for attendees (you don’t even have to be present to win!), and our ever-popular Member Market. This event attracts anywhere from 500-1000 attendees each week and is always a great spot for a family gathering or meet-up with friends. Still not sold? Once a month or more we change things up by hosting a theme night! Past special events have included everything from fiestas, to superhero & villain costume contests, to a backyard BBQ, to trivia nights. Make sure to mark your calendars and join us for our First Bite Ceremony officially kicking off the 2018 Fremont Street Eats season on May 11th at 6:00pm. We’ll also be out there serving up family-friendly fun every Friday from 4:30pm to 9:00pm from May 4th to October 26th, 2018.

Fremont Burger & Brew FestBeer and burger aficionados listen up! The Burger & Brew Fest is one of the bay’s best up and coming events. The Burger & Brew Fest was created to celebrate the craft breweries making liquid gold right here in northern California. The 4th annual event occurring May 26th, 2018 from 11:00am to 5:00pm will attract an estimated 7,500 attendees and feature sampling from bay area breweries, mouthwatering burgers and sliders, gourmet snack vendors, local business booths, trendy art and craft vendors who put a spin on all things delicious, and live entertainment, including The Burger Throwdown, a burger cooking competition that benefits local charities. So, if you like burgers (veggie burgers count too), beer, or just having a blast on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, keep this one on your radar.

Fremont Festival of the ArtsThis year will mark the 35th year of the Fremont Festival of the Arts. Yes, 35 years and it just keeps getting better! The Fremont Festival of the Arts is hailed as the largest free street festival west of the Mississippi and attracts over 400,000 attendees over two days. Taking place on August 4th and 5th, 2018 from 10:00am to 6:00pm there will be everything from art and craft vendors, to food trucks and food booths benefiting local non-profits, to carnival rides, to beer, wine, and margarita sales, to you name it! This event has a little something for everyone. You can come to shop. You can come to eat. You can come to drink. You can come with the little ones and explore Kid City. You can come dance along to the tunes coming from one of our two stages with non-stop music. We don’t care why you come, we just don’t want anyone missing out on this great community event.

One of the best parts about these Fremont Chamber of Commerce events is that they are, no joke, absolutely 100% FREE to attend. Anyone and everyone is invited and welcome to join. No tickets are necessary to get in. So why not come and explore one, if not all three this year?

But the good news doesn’t stop there, oh no! As a Fremont Chamber member did you know that you are given exclusive discounts and opportunities to have your business participate in each of these events? You can join in the fun of all three of these events in multitude of ways. Fill out an application below for the event at which you’d like to promote your business, or reach out to us about opportunities to sponsor or volunteer. It takes the power of the business community behind the Chamber to pull these events off every year. We hope you’ll join us.